About the Artist:

With innovative multi-genre original productions, sensational interpretations of modern classics, and an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam,” (The New Yorker), Sō Percussion has redefined the scope and role of the modern percussion ensemble.

Their repertoire ranges from “classics” of the 20th century, by John Cage, Steve Reich, and Iannis Xenakis, et al, to commissioning and advocating works by contemporary composers such as David Lang, Steve Mackey, and Paul Lansky, to distinctively modern collaborations with artists who work outside the classical concert hall, including vocalist Shara Nova, electronic duo Matmos, the groundbreaking Dan Deacon, legendary drummer Bobby Previte, jam band kings Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche, choreographer Shen Wei, and composer and leader of The National, Bryce Dessner, among many others.

Sō Percussion also composes and performs their own works, ranging from standard concert pieces to immersive multi-genre programs – including Imaginary City, Where (we) Live, and their newest endeavor, A Gun Show, which will be performed throughout the current season, most notably in a multi-performance presentation as part of BAM’s 2016 Next Wave Festival. In these concert-length programs, Sō Percussion employs a distinctively 21st century synthesis of original music, artistic collaboration, theatrical production values and visual art, into a powerful exploration of their own unique and personal creative experiences.

Sō Percussion began the 16/17 season with critically acclaimed performances at the Lincoln Center Festival, including a complete performance of Steve Reich’s Drumming, and a sold-out Trilogy of Sō commissions and masterworks of the percussion repertoire. Other highlights of the season include an original work, From Out a Darker Sea in England’s East Durham, supported by Forma Arts; an appearance at Carnegie Hall for a celebration of Steve Reich’s 80th birthday; an appearance at the Eaux Claires Festival with Shara Nova and Buke & Gase; a return to London’s the Barbican for Sound Unbound 2017; performances throughout the US, and much more.

Recent highlights include a featured performance at Carnegie Hall with Glenn Kotche and Shara Nova; a collaboration with Dawn Upshaw and Gil Kalish for the season opener of Da Camera of Houston; international tours to Poland and Ireland; performances of David Lang’s percussion concerto “man made” with Gustavo Dudamel with the LA Phil; Bryce Dessner’s “Music for Wood and Strings” at the Barbican in London, and at Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival; and an original score for a live performance and broadcast of WNYC’s Radiolab with Jud Abumrad and Robert Krulwich at BAM.

Rooted in the belief that music is an essential facet of human life, a social bond, and an effective tool in creating agency and citizenship, Sō Percussion enthusiastically pursues a growing range of social and community outreach. Examples include their Brooklyn Bound presentations of younger composers; commitments to purchasing offsets to compensate for carbon-heavy activities such as touring travel; and leading their SōSI students in an annual food-packing drive, yielding up to 25,000 meals, for the Crisis Center of Mercer County through the organization EndHungerNE.

Sō Percussion is the Edward T. Cone Ensemble-in-Residence at Princeton University, where they offer educational work and present an annual series of concerts. They are also Co-Directors of the percussion department at the Bard College-Conservatory of Music, and run the annual Sō Percussion Summer Institute (SōSI), providing college-age composers and percussionists an immersive exposure to collaboration and project development.

Sō Percussion’s 2017-2018 season is supported by The Aaron Copland Fund; The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; The Howard Gilman Foundation; The Alice M. Ditson Fund; The National Endowment for the Arts: Art Works; The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; and New Music USA’s NYC New Music Impact Fund made possible with funding from The Scherman Foundation’s Katharine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund.

Sō Percussion uses Vic Firth sticks, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Estey Organs, and Pearl/Adams instruments. Sō Percussion would like to thank these companies for their generous support and donations.

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Sō Percussion

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